In Throwback Thursday Enjoy Beccles more takes a look back at some of the town’s major stories and events from times gone-by.

The article below first appeared in the Beccles and Bungay Jounral on Friday, July 25, 2008.

Carnival parade a super success by Terry Reeve

People turned out in their thousands on Sunday to enjoy one of Beccles’ top annual attractions – its carnival parade.

The colourful, vibrant, musical procession wound its way through the town’s streetrs from the start at the Rainbow car park and the crowds cheered and clapped all the way, applauding the floats and other entries that clubs, organisations and businesses had been working on for several months.

The number of entries was encouraging and the quality and fun were there in abundance, and the weather stayed dry.

There were bubbles, confetti and leaflets aplenty and great repartee between those on the floats and the crowds.

Although the first two days of the carnival did have a disappointing turnout, organiser Annette Tackley was delighted that about 40 floats and other acts took part in the parade – the most participants in years.

The winner of the best parade floats competition was given to Graham Rudd for his Dr Who inspired creation.

The carnival bonanza started on Friday with a summer ska music night headlined by for Specials frontman Neville Staple.

On Saturday, children took part in a teddy bears’ parade picnic and families enjoyed games, races and a fancy dress contest.

The carnival also featured a show by the Lowestoft Dog Agility Display team, a martial arts display, and a tug of war competition.

Music was provided by bands Fail in Duty, Austin Beats, one Member Short, Tosh and the Moonlighters. A Blues Brothers tribute band also thrilled the audience.

And the final night of fun at the quay reached its climax with a spectacular fireworks display.

Featured in Sunday’s parade were the Kuksoowon Martial Arts Club, Thirst youth Club, the Royal British legions with their Home Guard float, the Duck Race team, The Invaders with Dr Who and the life size Daleks, the Hovis boy on a bicycle with his family, several stretch limos from Chevron Limos, one carrying the mayor of Beccles, David Smith, Radio Broadland with Lotus Cars, the Beccles Carnival Queen and her princesses, the Lowestoft Journal carnival queen, the Southwold and Reydon Corps of Drums, St John Ambulance with a spectacular red, orange and yellow butterfly tableau, the Beccles Royales, the TS Brave Sea Cadets, Madame Fanny the Fortune Teller, with M D Smith Motor Mechanics, the South Beccles Pre-School, Halesworth Lions with their princess, Roots Rock from Ingate, a vintage Riley car, Clem’s Skip Hire, The Odd Couple on a motor bike, a cycling Tardis, The Oak pub with its Shrek scene, Stylists by Stacey, the Broadview Wine Bar, the Moo Play Farm from Brampton, and the Beccles Helping Hands, with their Dracula scene.